Published by admin on 05 Dec 2008 at 05:55 pm
BEING SATISFIED
There is a weapon the devil uses against everyone, and it’s pretty hard to escape its harm, but not impossible. What might that weapon be? Satisfaction. I remember the old Rolling Stones song from the ‘60’s called, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. So it must have been a problem then, too. Actually, it was a problem even back in the Garden of Eden, only Adam and Eve didn’t recognize it at the time. Adam and Eve were happy campers until the devil came along and made Eve think the Lord was holding out on them by not allowing them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. All of a sudden, she was not satisfied with the status quo. And it all went downhill for all mankind from there. You see, it’s what you could call a “stealth” weapon, because it kind of just sneaks up on you over time, then one day you wake up finding you’ve been beaten severely about the head and shoulders with it.
Satisfaction comes in many shapes and sizes. I’ll deal with just a few of them here. There are people who have been married a long time, say twenty or thirty years. They’re pretty happily married, no longer on their “Honeymoon” by any sense of the word, but still pretty content. Gradually over the years they find themselves growing resentful of a few things here or there, and the next thing you know, one of them has moved on without the other. What happened? They realized one day they were no longer satisfied. The same thing happens on the job. People start out pleased with their employment, but somewhere along the line, the desire to be satisfied becomes stronger than the ability to tolerate, and they quit.
Some people seek satisfaction from material goods, such as cars. I know a person who trades or buys vehicles like most people change underwear, and no matter what they get, they are never happy for very long. Then, it’s off to get another one that is perceived to be more satisfactory.
It depends on your particular temperament whether you are easily satisfied, or not. Satisfaction is a powerful thing. It keeps people in a relationship, or it can drive them apart, sort of like when you put two magnets together. Facing one way, they are drawn to each other. Turn one around, and they repel. Lack of satisfaction can keep you in turmoil all your life. If it isn’t your mate, it’s your job. If it isn’t your job, it’s your home. If it isn’t your home, it’s your vehicle. But know this; the devil knows what rings your bell, ok? If he can find an area of your life that you are dissatisfied, he will use it as bait to stir up strife, envy, jealousy, or whatever he can send your way. And if you let it take root in your life, you’ll never be happy with anything.
The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:6-13, Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again: wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
But I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
It’s cold, and right now I’d much rather be in Florida, but the Lord has placed us here in Missouri, so I need to be satisfied in the state I’m in, right? That’s supposed to be funny….
But the fact is, if you’re able to be satisfied when things are not ideal, you will not be easy pickin’s for the devil, and things will go a lot better for you.
Some people’s lives are driven to sorrow because no matter what comes down the road of life at them, they are never satisfied. I’ve read about people who were poor, who won the lottery, and they were happy for a few days, but soon found money and new toys could not fill the empty space in them. And they were just as dissatisfied as before, only rich and dissatisfied. Of course, I guess that’s better than being poor and dissatisfied….
Each of us have an empty spot in our lives that cannot be filled with anything but God. And He created us that way on purpose, so we would seek Him. Why is it we spend a .goodly portion of our time trying to fill that hole with other things? For some, it’s another person, for others it may be cars, homes, possessions, popularity, or achievements. We all know a workaholic or two, who are driven by the need to do things to give themselves a sense of satisfaction. There’s nothing wrong with hard work, and the world could use a little more of it in this day and age where everyone wants the world handed to them on a silver platter. But let’s not miss the source of truly being satisfied. Are you looking at your “satisfaction” gauge right now, and it’s on “empty”?
Fill your life with the Lord Jesus, and you’ll never feel empty again. Once you have made God the centerpiece of your life, everything else just kind of falls into proper perspective. Marriages get better, job satisfaction is up, and you’re no longer beating your head against the wall trying to figure out what’s “missing” in your life.
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” All WHAT things? The things the world tries so hard to get their hands on, but never seem to quite get it right. God knows you need and want certain things in your life, and He doesn’t have a problem with that. However, He does have a problem with “things” having YOU. Why? Because He knows as long as “things” have a hold on you, you will never be satisfied. So why not get your eyes on that which truly satisfies? And no, I don’t mean a “Snickers Bar”.
It is written in Isaiah 55:1-2, Ho, every on that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come , buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
What is the Lord offering you today? Satisfaction! Is your soul’s satisfaction a little on the skinny side right now? Then seek God with your whole heart, and you’ll never sing “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, ever again. Promise!
Aubrey Furtado on 06 Dec 2008 at 4:18 am #
Mathew 33:6 Is wonderful For when you lean ont on your own understanding and acknowledge HIm in all your ways He directs your parth
He is the creator of the universe and knows where the wealth is and how to bring it to
us who believe and wait on HIM
Love in Christ
Aubrey
Rita Lovett on 06 Dec 2008 at 6:10 pm #
You have hit the nail on the head and what you have written is so prevalent in our society
today. Yes,I too was so dissatisfied with my marriage here lately since I have been unequally yoked for over thirty years. But now, Grace has been sufficient for me and this
union has been blessed by God with five grown daughters and nine healthy grandchildren.
God has given me a desire to live byHis Grace everyday now and I look to Jesus Christ as
my husband, friend, King , Saviour, Deliverer, Counselor, Physician, Lawyer and soon
coming Lord. In other words Jesus lives so big in me that He is Everything that satisfies
my soul. My soul is now anchored in the Lord and my prayers are answered when the
Holy Spirit intercedes for me!!!
Constance on 07 Dec 2008 at 11:26 pm #
Thanks for the beautiful word…I will endeavour to seek first his Kingdom…am going through a real storm right now ans think I been looking too much at the storm.